Pricing plans

Here's the pricing comparison chart that Apple displays on the ordering page for the new iPad. All plans are commitment free -- you can cancel at anytime.

So with regards to cost, you need to ask yourself how much data you plan on using. Realistically, if you have Wifi at home, work and school (if you're a student), you can probably get by just fine with AT&T's 250MB per month plan and cut the monthly cost in half.

On the other hand, if you plan to consume a lot of data, Verizon may be the way to go since they offer a 10GB per month plan.

LTE availability

In addition to price, you must also consider where each carrier offers coverage and if you're within that area. Here's a side by side comparison of Verizon's and AT&T's coverage maps (left is Verizon, right is AT&T).

Clearly, Verizon has much more LTE availability (green dots vs orange dots.) If you live in an area where Verizon offers LTE and AT&T does not, your best bet is to probably go with Verizon, providing that their network is pretty solid in that area. If you're not sure, ask your family, friends, and coworkers who have LTE phones on Verizon's network.

If LTE is not available to you on either network, the next thing to look at is 3G coverage. If you live somewhere that only gets EDGE on AT&T (light blue on AT&T's map), Verizon is the way to go.

Most of you, however, will be in one of these last two categories: an LTE available area on both Verizon and AT&T, or, in a 3G, but not LTE available area on both Verizon and AT&T. For those of you in this category, I'm inclined to recommend AT&T, provided that the 3G network is stable in your area. Again, ask your friends, family, and coworkers for their experience.

Why AT&T, you ask? Because AT&T's HSPA and HSPA+ 3G networks are faster than Verizon's CDMA 3G network. It's all about the speed.

You can get a closer look at AT&T's coverage map here and Verizon's map here.

Tethering

If you want to have the ability to tether your iPad's network connection to your computer, then Verizon in your only choice. Verizon includes tethering in their data plans and does not come at an additional cost.

As of right now, AT&T does not offer this functionality.

Making the choice

So which one are you going to choose? Personally, since AT&T's LTE network is not available in my area, but Verizon's is, it was a no-brainer for me to choose Verizon (even though my iPhone is with AT&T). What about you?

Former app and photography editor at iMore, Leanna has since moved on to other endeavors. Mother, wife, mathamagician, even though she no longer writes for iMore you can still follow her on Twitter @llofte.

I am a Verizon customer. I ordered my Ipad yesterday after an hour on the phone in which I was advised by both Verizon and Apple that the Verizon version does NOT have a SIM card slot. I was told that the Verizon Ipad would not work (i.e. with data) in Italy, where I am going in two weeks. The AT&T version has a removable SIM card so that you can exchange the AT&T version for a locally purchased SIM card overseas and use (more inexpensively) a local data plan. I hope I was not misled. I'd be interested in any contradictions here....while I can still cancel my order.

I just got off the Apple Store Chat and asked them this question and here is their answer "CDMA doesn't work on sim cards, but it does have a micro sim card tray so you can pop in a GSM carrier micro sim card when traveling!" So, you should be fine:)

I have my new iPad and have set up the cellular account with Verizon. There IS a SIM card slot on the Verizon iPad ... there IS NOT a SIM card slot on the AT&T iPad. Verizon says the cellular service will work worldwide for the same $30/mo for 2MB. I'm going to Italy, Germany, France, and the UK for 7 weeks ... I'll find out.

Hi there, What have u find out about which one version has a removable SIM card so that you can exchange the version for a locally purchased SIM card overseas and use a local data plan?
some said yes some said Verizon has sim card slot. I just bought AT&T one but I also want to be sure can use oversea sim card, so if not I can return.
Thank u

I purchased a Verizon version. It has the SIM card slot. I live in Colombia part-time. You have to remove the Verizon SIM and replace it with a local SIM. I chose Comcel here. I had to visit the local store to get everything setup, but otherwise no issues so far, works like a charm.

One other wrinkle, if you are still on an unlimited AT&T plan, you can transfer it to a new iPad, and supposedly (I am not sure about this), AT&T has not throttled tablet users, only phone users. Even if there is throttling some day, you are still getting 3GB for your $30 rather than 2GB, although you don't have the option of going month to month.

I just got off the phone with an AT&T rep and was told that I'd be able to transfer my unlimited plan from my iPad "1" to my new iPad "3" no problem. Hopefully they don't change their minds before the 16th!
Verizon, according to the above map, has 4g in my area while AT&T does not, but I've been very pleased with my 3G speeds , so I'm choosing unlimited 3G with AT&T over limited 4G with Verizon.

I wish it was duel LTE, but sadly that won't be until next year (if we're lucky). I have Verizon 4G at my home, and the map seems to be getting better. I'm torn because I've had the AT&T iPad and iPad 2 since they came out, and I've been mostly happy with the speeds. When I travel into parts of Virginia from West Virginia I lose that LTE from Verizon but I have 3G from both. AT&T is much faster on the 3G, and the more data for the buck is a given. But how long until AT&T starts screwing over tablet owners? I really like some advice, the LTE is tempting and I know Verizon is rolling it out fast and should have it by years end, where as AT&T is never going to catch up (or so it seems). Thoughts?

Why do you state that Verizon is "rapidly growing" but not for AT&T? Verizon started their LTE push earlier so yes, their coverage is much larger for the time being, but since AT&T started upgrading to LTE last year, they've been growing just as fast if not faster than Verizon. I don't have a dog in the fight, so I'm coming at this from an unbiased angle, but it's important to know the facts.

Important question is which is better for international roaming. AT&T has LTE 2100 and Verizon model has CDMA EV-DO (They both have several other options). So which is better for international roaming, europe, asia, etc?

I have worked with many different cell towers. CDMA/Verizon works great in metro areas that are set up with digital service. GSM/ATT works both digital and analog. In 2005 75% of cellular networks GSM stat is not a very good marker since technology has become more dependant on digital devices. Macau has decided to phase out GSM and that would make sense because it is a populated region that supports tourism.

I assume that the iPad for AT&T has HSPA+. Which, if the case, has comparable speeds to most of Verizon's lte network anyway. AT&T has HSPA+ pretty much everywhere where they have 3G .
Not to mention the fact that GSM is pretty much literally everywhere on earth.
I'll be getting an AT&T model

Went with AT&T/GSM. I haven't had any real complaints with AT&T. I also took into consideration that I've thrown less money on AT&T these last 3.5 years, than all the money I threw on Verizon in one year alone. Just my 2 cents.

Verizon has has prepaid data with similar prices to their contract data but you only use what and when you pay for. If you don't need data for a few months, you don't pay for it. Going to take a trip and will need some on the road? Pay for 5gb and use it up. Need more? buy more? it is the way I am going. I won't need data ALL the time but when I do Big red will be there ready to load me up!

Hello, Can I buy ipad 4g in USA and use it abroad with any other local sim that supports 3g? Is there any hardware differences between at&t and verizon? Is the data plan compulsory? Can I buy and ipad 4g without having any data plan?

Don't forget, as noted in the first paragraph....."you can cancel at any time".
I like to look at that as you do not need to turn on the cell radio and can use it ad hoc with proration. I know at least verizon will prorate the cost, but remember that data gets prorated too.
So if you turn on 3g/4g for, say, 1 week, you will technically be alotted 1/4 of the data. So it is often better to leave the thing on for a whole month, possibly, than to risk large overages..if you think you data use is weighted heavily to the period of use......

In speaking with quite a few random AT&T reps, I found (for what I believe to be the first time ever) absolute consistency in what each said re carrying plans over from an older iPad to the new one...
Since the new iPads have LTE, the plan needs to be provisioned differently and needs to use one of the newer SIM cards (which will come with the device, anyway). HOWEVER, the pricing will carryover if you transfer your service from the 3G SIM to the LTE SIM (i.e., unlimited if you still have it, $25/2GB if that's what you've got, etc.)
Can't guarantee this is really what will happen (i.e., will everyone be forced onto new pricing) but it's hopefully good news for people who are on the unlimited plan or the $25 plan.

It looks to me like the Verizon version supports all of the same network frequencies that the AT&T version does. So why can't I use a AT&T LTE micro sim in the verizon version? Is it a hardware difference, or are they locked to a carrier with (unlockable) software?

Does anyone know about occasional use in Canada? Will I need a new SIM? Will the U.S. data plan work as-is in Canada, or will there be a Canadian plan I could sign up for? Any difference between AT&T and Verizon in this regard?

Hello,
iPad 3 will first one and I have some questions based on posts above.
1) If I have the AT&T unlimited data plan on my phone can the iPad 3 be put on that plan?
2) Which one is better for overseas?
3) My plan is to use wi-fi mostly and buy data plans when I travel, which one would be better?

I have a question.
Since the data plan can be month to month,can I buy the verizon version for the first month then switch to ATT plan later? looks like the verizon version support all the band just missing the LTE 2100 band which is not there yet.

Question...
According to AT&T, "Usage in excess of 3GB for the 3GB plan or in excess of 5GB for the 5GB plan during the service period will be billed $10 for each additional 1GB."
Ok... so I don't see any reason why anyone would want to buy the 5GB plan.
If you buy the 3GB and use up to 5GB you pay... $50. If you use less than 3GB, you pay $30
If you buy the 5GB and use up to 5GB you pay... $50. If you use less than 3GB, you pay $50.
Why would anyone buy the 5GB plan?

I live in the DC area and visit mostly Chicago, NY, and Southern CA. All places with good coverage, generally speaking. My main issue is overseas travel. A lot of travel to Hawaii, the Caribbean, Europe and Israel. My iPhone is on AT&T and so is my iPad2. I am inclined to stay with that for the New iPad. Any reason to reconsider and move to Verizon?

I live in a mountainous area on the central coast of CA. , we are not able to use our cell phones up here. (neither Verizon nor AT&T reception is good). Would I still be able to access the web with a 3G or 4G ipad??